title: [Bite injuries in the head and neck area].
abstract: In Germany about 8500 dog-bite injuries in the face occur every year; more than 50% of the victims are infants and schoolchildren. Besides dogs, other animals such as cats or horses may be responsible for these accidents. Even human bites are reported. The predominant areas are the nose and the auricles. The tissue defects may be superficial, but they can even cause amputations, including severe vascular and nerve or bony destruction. Systemic antibiotic therapy is needed when the wound is infected. The surgical approach to bite injuries includes local wound cleansing, careful excision of necrotic tissue and primary closure of the wound whenever possible. Regarding the importance of surgery in the head and neck area plastic-reconstructive techniques including autologous transplantations and various local or regional flaps should be used at the time the wound is first repaired.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik und Poliklinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde, Universität Ulm.
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Scheithauer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rettinger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D001734:Bites, Human / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004285:Dogs; D004423:Ear / Q000293:injuries; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D009666:Nose / Q000293:injuries; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011819:Rabies Vaccines; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid
vernacular_title: Bissverletzungen im Kopf-Halsbereich.